B! \1;r-J-g amt...- awn-av! n-l-QI-Ip " Fffliltntni’ , r: l. -~ w- n-"nrwi ww- Popular FRUIT CAKE There are any number of recip- es for fruit cakes. Some provide a rich cake. atiny slice of which is a sufficient serving portion. Others, not so ruch in fruit and eggs. are also good. The latter Will stand all the preservative tests of the fcmer, and many people prefer them. Then, too, if you don't like spic-s. you may have a cake with- out them. This is known as a. “l ght fruit cake." Fruit cakes should be bakedor steamed in bread tins. Cut un- r nrcd paper the siza of the bottom of {he pan thrce-cruarters full wnth C3126 batter. If you are baking the czilzc. put a, pan of hot water 1n the oxen with the cake. If you are sicaming it. have the water about an inch deep in the steamer. Re- member. 1n both‘ cases, fruit, cakes rmuirc infinite cooking patience. Sorr.» of them bake for as long a period us fire or six hours. The average, however, is two and one- haIf to three hours. You who sis-am cakes “'13! do ivell. 10o. to re- move lbur cakes from the steamer and to dry them out slightly for half an hour in a slow oven. after the steaming. No icing is necessary for fruit czikcs. 'f'he_v are admirably rich in thrznrx-Zvcs, To keep them in- . zrurelyr. wrap gliem in wax paper, k them ‘.1170 tin boxes. In our 0.d cook books we fund instruc- tions to gWe thorn weekly" and monthly" baths of brandy. The in- gredzenls of fruit cakes make them seem costly. but in reality. when we consider even the richest of them, ti". "go a long way“ and waive their cost in so doing. White Fruit Cake egg wliétcs. eups of powdered sugar. cup of ‘outtcr. cup of sweet cream. wineghiss of brandy for cider). cups of flour. 1-‘3 teaspoons of seida. 102151100115 of cream of tartar. pounds of almonds. blanched. and sliced. pound of citron, sliced fine. pound o." grated cocoanut. tablespoons of rose water. tablespoon of lemon extract. slice of candied orange peel, eut. Take out two cups of the flour and use it to dredge the almonds. citron. orange rwzl and 60001111111- Cream the butter and sugar. Sift the remaining flour and soda i0- vav-lgqv-IH ussais>a-tofi t Ifeep the PofBoiling for Christmas Dinner. Every afternoon they stood on op- pcsite corners-he in a Santa Claus outfit, beside a "chlmney"_- she ringing a. bell by the sign “Keep the pot boiling". Younger people, paus- 1118 i0 drop a coin in the pot or the chimney, wondered at the two old people out in such vrintry weather. But the coins dropped often, so that “Christmas Dinners for the Poor" were coming true. And the man (such a thin Santa!) said "Thank you sir." And the little old lady said. "God bless you." Sometimes he would 10k across and smile and she would jingle hcr bell the harder. But one day she was not there. "Sick," they said. ‘Phat night he found where she liv- cri and went to see her. “Much better," site told him. “But if I hud gone out today v I might have been very sick tomorrow-and 1 what of my corner?" "I know.“ he said. "We love work- inz for others-you and I-who do know loneliness-J’ They talked long of their work, then of themselves, and two old 990F111 810W Young again. "Don't F011 think." he said at last. "that mliybiv-you and L-could keep the W1 110111118 11928ti1C1‘?"-—-"t|0h Gals- ford. gether. Add th¢ cream and cider to the butter mixture and then add the flour. Add the dredged fruit and nuts to the cake mixture. Put the cream of tartar with the egg whites and beat untill stiff. Fold , into the cake with the lemon ex. tract and rose water. Pour the bat- ter into bread pans and bake in a slow oven (275 degrees Fahrenheit) for two to three hours. Test it with a finger for dcneness. The cake m- dentation should follow tha finger back into place. Old-Fashioned Fruit Cake 1 pound o.’ sugar. 3-4 D01111d 0f butter. 5 well beaten eggs. 1 cup of milk. 1 1-2 teaspoons of soda (dissolved in a little hot, water). 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar. 1 pound of’ siftedilour. 2 pounds of seedless raisins. 1 Pound of sifted flour. 2 pounds of seedless raisins. 1-2 pound of citron. 1-3 DOund of candied pineapple. 1-2 pound of cherries, cut 1n halv- es. 1 pound of dates. 1-2 pound o.’ walnut meats. 1-2 pound of blanched almonds. i-2 pound of figs. Juice and rind of 1 lemon. 1 graled nuinicg. 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 pound of flour. Cut up the fruits and nuis the day beforé making. Soak the rais- ins and thinly sliced citron in one and one-half cups of brandy (or- cidcri overnight. covering tightly. 'I'he fruit should be sliced very thin, and the almonds blanched before chopping. The following day mix all the fruits together. Sift the flour once. and then sift the spices and cream of tartar with it. Combin with the iiruit. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the well-beaten eggs and the (lissoivcd soda. Add the milk alternately with the flour fruii mixture. Potir the batter into bread pans and bake in a slow oven i275 degrees Fahrenheit) from two to three hours. Don't forget the pan of water in the ovciii Black Fruit (‘mi-ac 12 088s. 1 pound of sugar. 3-4 pound of butter. 1 pound of currents. 1 pound of figs. 1 pound of citron. 2_pounds of seedless raisins. 1 tablespoon of mace. 1 tablespoon of cloves. 1 tablespon of allspice. 2 tablespoons o.’ brandy (or cider). 2 tablespoon of sherry wine (or cider). Put, this cake together in the man ner rescribed in the previous receipe Bake in a slow oven (215 degrees Fahrenheit) about, four hours. or until the cake will "follow a finger indentation back into place. Fruit cakes and old cook books march side by side in cooking. I have given manfv-times-testcd re- ceipts toclay from the old books, Grandmother's book did not, draw a working diagram cf how these cakes were to bc made, but. other- wise, the receipes l‘sted are the same. In your spare moments ran- sack your attic and family files for similar old books. I'd like to hear from you about just what, treasured "rcccipes" yOU find! From an old cook book comes this recipe, guaranteed to "keep long": Little Plumb (‘akest Four cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup butter, 1 teaspoon of mixed slices. 3 eggs. l-Z pound curranis, 1-4 teaspoon salt, 1-2 pound sccd- less raisins. Mix the flour. sugar, spices and salt together. Beat the butter ti, a cream: mid eggs. well beaten. rais- ins, rurrnnls, and flour mixture. Beat w-rll for ten minutes. If prop- erly mixcrl and beaten, this will fonn a stiff paste. Dredge. flour on iin bflkillg sit-cots and drop batter the size of it walnut on them. Bake in a biisk oven. llonlx Kuchen: 'i‘i’ils is a Duch Christmas cake- Mix with 1 cup honey 1 1-2 tea- ‘rne CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN fi‘?% Christmas‘ and the Birds It is said that no peasant in Swe- den will sit down with his children to Christmas dinner until he hi! provided food for the birds. The farmers erect poles in their door- yards to which sheafs of 818111 l" bound, to provide for birds through the season when vegetation is cov- ered with snow and ice. spoons o! powdered cinnamon, 1-2 teaspoon, each. oi’ swund 8111i!“ and baking soda, 1-4 teaspoon each. of cloves. white pepper and $1111- and, if possible, 1 teaspoon o.’ pow- dered cardimon seed. Put B11 111 B largo agateware bvwl; 111111 3'4 c"? of sugar and heat until the 5118111‘ is dissolved and the smell of the spices is evident. Care should be taken that the honey does not boil over. Let cool somewhat, but while still warm sift into the mixture. while stirring constantly. from 2 1-2 to 3 cups of flour. or enough t0 make thick batter, sifted with 3 teaspoons of baking powder. Add 2 ounces of chopped. and 1-4 pound. each, of raisins and entrants. Let mixture stand in the pan for 20 minutes before putting 1n the oven —it should be baked in a large. round pan. the batter not more than 3-4 inch deep-and bake at l low temperature for from 30 to 40 minutes. or until done. Sprinkle the top with coarse granulated sugar. and decorate with a border of red and green tinted icing, ar- ranged i nthe form of leaves and berries. Christmas Cake: Cream 1-2 cup a.’ shortening, grntltmllg; add 1 1-2 cups of sugar. 51.1. tog-liter 2 cups of flour and 2 lt-tupot-uis (,1 baking powder; add to the butter mixture, alternately. with 3-4 cup of tiilk. 1 teaspoon of vanilla. and the whites of 4 eggs. beaten stiff. When thoroughly blended. bake in 3 layers. Filling for Christmas Cake: Boil 2 cups of sugar and 3-4 cup of water to 236 degrees; pour slow- ly on to the whites of 2 eggs, beat- ing constantly‘; then add 1 table- spoon of lemon Juice. When cool add 12 marshmallows, 1 cup of wal- nuts, and 24 Maraschino cherries. nil cut, into small pieces. Put this filling between the layers and over the top and sides oi’ the cake. Cover this filling with frosting made by lmiling 2 cups of sugar and 3-4 cup of water to 240 de- grees. Pour this en to the whit/es of 2 eggs. beaten dry. Pipe stars a- bove the frosting and decorate with cltron and cherries. Little Christmas Cakes: Cream 2-3 cup butter, beat in 1 cup of sugar. add the yolks of 4 eggs, beaten light, 1 tablespoon of milk. 1 1-2 cups of flour, sifted with 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and l-2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and the whites of 4 eggs, beaten dry. Bake in small tins. This recipe makes 12 little cakes. Frost; with confection- erfs sugar frosting; decorate with small red candies. Christmas Citron Tartlttes: Make a soft custard of 1 pint of thin cream, 3 beaten eggs, and 6 tablespoons n: sugar. Pour, when cold, into 6 patty shells. and pile on the tope of each spoon of thick whipped cream. tinted pink with a couple of drops of ccchineal. De- coratc with green mints. Four-Minute Fruit Cake: Two-thirds cup of soft butter or chicken fat, 2 1-2 cups brown sugar. 4 eggs, 1 cup milk. 3 1-2 cup sift- ed flour, 2 tablespoons cocoa, 1-2 (K383110011 mace, 1 teaspoon cinna- mon. 2 tablespoons baking powder, 1-2 pound "raisins, 1-4 pound stoned dates (cut fine). 1-4 1110111111 011!‘- rants. Put, all the ingredients int/a a. bowl together, and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for 4 minutes. ‘Bake in loaf pan for 45 minutes. 'I'his is a very satisfactory fruit cake. and a grew. time-saver. Christmas calculations - ‘Phat the Christmas eating capacity o! the average boy is equal to all that he is permitted to eat, all that he eats without permission, and then some more. "Do come again. M1’- Weeml- We did have such fun with your name, didn't we?" Best of All Yule Che" Christmas-the friendliest, 10111851 ggggqn o; 511 the year, when folks naturally suffer ‘from that 800d 01d fashioned malady-enlumemeni °1 the hem-g; with the sweet winds 01 festivity blowing at will through city and suburb, down ancestral chimneys and across snow carpfiied prairie, rich and poor alike respond to their caress. with rigid conven- - ttons relaxed under the spell of the Yuletide. merriment is provoked 11P- on the slightest provocation. Lei the bag of nuts that the bachelor is carrying break its bounds, and lit- ter the floor of the street car, spon- taneous laughter ripples through the trolley and strangers are chat- ting together with the intimacy of neighbors. Touched by the breath of genial- ity, sympathetic chords are loosen- ed and a. hundred eyes dim with tears as pedestrians witness the tra- gedy of a curley-headed. blue eyed baby doll slip from its little owner's hand and is lost in the flowing traf- fic o!‘ the crowded streets. _ You find yourself exchanging greetings-hearty ones too- with the fellow you've bumped into daily in the restaurant. but with whom you havent the slightest pcrsonni acquaintance. In the cities, where strangenexi gand aloneness are taken for grant- ed, it; is during the Yuletide that the friendly hand-clasp is accepted as the best gift of the season. The little stenographer from dinner in the old folks‘ kitchen, setting the table with her own snowy cloth, dainty bride's china and silver. 1n the gleaming when the old people wth the young folk sat down before the crackling fire, the girl-wiles hand clasping the old woman's toil stained palm, it was, vividly clear to both of them that it was the “much nccdcd hand clasp" that was best of that Christmas merrymaking. Red a Cherry Color Red is regarded as the most chee- ry and cheerful of all colors. It is said to react the most quickly on the optic nerve. Decorations avail- able at the winter solstice include 110111’. the berries of which are red. It grew to be the custom to use hol- ly and berries of a similar nature in preparing for the festival of our Christmas. By virtue of the asso- ciation of ideas red came to be con- nected with the Christmas season. Hints for Christmas If YOU spill salt, throw a pinch over your left shoulder, and ill luck will pass you by. For every kiss you take under the mistletoe a berry must be picked and when all are picked, the privi- loge ceases. It you find a bit of red ribbon or red wool amongst your presents (especially wool). you will have l-uck in love. Be sure to wear the trill: while you make your wish If you want u "Happy Christmas" put more into it than you take out. Living Christmas Trees If the price of a. live Christmas tree seems high, whY 1101 1111-119 111° tree gerve g a, gift to some members of the family. It la curd! lust M flppmpflile to give a gift for beau- tifying the homo without as it is to give something for bemtifvlns the home within. The tree is a silt that will not wen‘ out nor deteriorate with age and will actually crow in vllue. . Household Suggestions Will Stand Erect 1! the holes in the flower holder are too large for thin-stemmed flow- ers try putting a small piece of stem in the hole along with the flower stem. More Economy When the edges of a blanket show wear and the inside is perfectly good, a deep border of sateen may be sewn all around. ‘It will make a most attractive comforter from an old blanket. A Gift Thai. Will Please) An attractive door knocker is a nice present to give the young cou- ple who have just built a new home. 0f course, find out the style of ar- chitecture ancl buy a knocker that will conform with the period. A Sprinkler If you will use a small brush or whisk to sprinkle water on the clothes you will be able to use hot- ter water and in consequence the clothes will be more evenly dampen- ed and can be ironed much sooner. Worth Bemembe in; Melted paraffin poured over the cut end of ham will keep it indefin- itely without danger of mold. Lemons will keep for a great length of time if placed in a mason jar, covered with cold water and scaled. The use of a woollen or partly woollen pressing cloth will ward otf that shiny look that so often looms up at the home pressing. When replacing u. broken window pane a red-hot poker passed slowly over the putty will pruvc an eilcc- tive aid in removing the pane. The First Show 1f you are trying to 11111111: the first. show n1. thc movies uiid the dishes just niust bu staclzetl, try to find time to mish the silver. if any wu- Lcr happens to lic on it, it is liable 1.0 rust and cause more work than if not washed. Lighter liififfsillllllllln Never serve rich sweets, salted nuts and hcuviiy frosted cakes ut. the cliildls party. lie 1115i. us wisc ill your selection 0f refreshments as you urc of the dict 0f your own child. Dishes can be licutctl b," placing them in hot. water iiiatcud of the oven during the sununci" months. Then you will not huvc that oven heat to contend with, but even in summer one docs not like fatty meats, such as lamb and pork chops. served on culd plates. Because There Was no Room (By Willis Boyd Allen) The blasts of winter are fierce and cold, The snow Les deep over hill and wold. But a star shines bright through the deepening gloom, Room foi" the Christ Child, room! Where man's distrust and his greed for gain Have frozen the floods of tender rain, Till never a. flower of hope can bloom,- Room for the Christ Child, room! In homes that dczpcst gi"iefs have borne, ‘Mid silent forms of those that mourn, In the shadows that gather around the tomb,~ Room for the Christ Child, room! Room for the Shepherds of Bethle- hcm, Room for the Angels who sang to them, Room for the Light, in the wintry gloom- Room for the Christ Child, roomi Christmas Means Hope Christmas means hopx amid the dull pessimism of u practical and scientific world. It means thnt when in the falling darkness, man's step is uncertain and his heart fails, the hand o1 the Almighty intervenes and the ancient promise is fulfilled He: “Is the pleasure of this next dance to be mine?" She: "Yes-all yours." Its Time to’ i» s" How To Make One The Children Can Eat With " Safety ground cloves, 1 cup fishi- brown sugar. 1-2 cup molasses. 1 teaspoon salt, 1-2 teaspoon soda. 1 cup blan- Plum Pudding seems almost as much a. pun, of Christmas as holly and carol-singing. And while we are usually surfeltcd with good things before we get to the plum pudding stage, a bit of rich, “nummy” pudding is needed to make the dinner perfect. A most intriguing dcliciousness is given to the pudding by pouring brandy over the mold and sending it. to the table in fascinating blue iinines. Or we e.ni fill the pudding so “chuck full" of richness that this fiuvoi" is not missed. A rich plum tiuriding can be sienmcti and kept almost, indefini- tely. This makes n (icligtitful Christ inns gift from the kitchen. Steam the pudding in small bowls. uumcld and wrap them in sparkiiiig paper nnd tie with gay how's threaded with holly. These rich puddings are o: high fond value and must be counted as an integral part of the meal when, planning the Christmas dinner. Small servings should 11c given. The more simple puddings are desirable 1o serve to children. These puddings arc nt their best when freshly made, and for this reason 11111.1’ be difficult to work in with the other dinner preparations. However. n litiie planning will make it pos- sibic to find room for the steaming 01 i118 pudding, and the assurance that the small guests or members of the family are no; over-taxing d1§esti0ns is worth the extra ef- fort. The true English plum pudding is boiled in a floured pudding bag. We prefer to steam our puddings in attractive molds suitable 1,0 send o the table. The molds may be iii- dividuai or there may be one large 0110. The molds for the pliddill§ must be well greased so that the pudding W111 slip out, easily. The water must not stop boiling during the steam- ing process and the covers of the molds must fir, closly so that no moisture can get into the pudding while it is steaming. with these precautions in mind. even the novice should have no difficulty in making a perfect plum pudding. The following rule is for a. plain nlum pudding that. is dclicimj m)! not too rich for children. PLAIN PLUM PUDDING. t One cup finely minced suet. 2 cups stale bread crumbs. 1 cup mo. lasses, 1 cup seeded and chopped raisins. 1 cup cleaned curl-ants. 1 teaspoon salt. 1 teaspoon soda, 1 teaspoon each ground cloves, cin- namon and nutmeg. 1-2 cup flour, 2 tablespoons lemon juice. »-»\ Mix suet and crumbs. Mix and sift flour. salt. soda and spices. Add . lemon juice to molasses and com- bine all ingredients. Stir well to 1n. sure thorough mixing. Turn mtg a well Blessed. closely covered mold’ and steam three hours. Thispgdt, ding is Calculated to serve 12 pdr- " sons. serve with lemon sauce and a garnish ‘of hard sauce. A RICH PUDDING The next rule is for a. rich pud- 111118 that can be kept; several weeks and reheated as wanted: _ TWO H1118 cleaned curt-ants, 2 cupsw seeded raisins. l cup candied orange‘ heel 1 cup shredded citron. 1 cup minced suet, 3 cups stale bread crumbs. 4 eggs. 1-2 cup flour. 1 tea- Flwon ground cinnamon. l-2 tea. spoon grated nutmeg. 1-2 teaspoon V‘ DECEMBER 19' 1<>s171i Think of g ched and shreeded almonds. 4 tablespoons tart jelly. 2 tablespoons coffee infusion. Chop fruit and suit with 110111‘- Add crumbs and mix well. Beat yolks of eggs until thick and lemon colored and udd to first mixture. Dissolve soda in coffee and add with salt, sugar. splccs, ~molasses and whites nf eggs beaten until still‘ and dry. 'l‘urn 11110 a well oiled mold and steam five hours. Serve with n liquid sauce and whipDed cream garnish or with golden sauce. The pudding will serve 12 persons. l‘lum Pudding Urn hull‘ oupful suct chopped fine 1-2 cupful molasses, 1-2 cupful milk 2 eggs. 2 eupfuis flour, 1-2 teaspoon ful suit, 1-2 teuspoonful soda, 1-2 tenspoonful cinnamon, 1-2 teaspoon ful nutmeg. 1-4 cupful chopped figs 1-4 teaspoonful allspice. 2 teaspoon- fuls baking powder, 1-2 cupful rai- sins, l-Z cupful currants. 1-4 cup- ful blanched, chopped almonds, 1-4 eupful cllron, thinly sliced, 1-4 cup ful candied chcrrics, cut in quar- ters, 1' tablcspoonful chopped, can- diccl orange peel. Mix together the suct, molasses and milk. Add the well beaten eggs Prepare the fruit and mix with one half cupful of the flour, and then measure and sift together the re- maining flour and the dry ingre- dients. Add to the suet mixture. and last. add the floured fruit. and pour into a large, greased mold and steam for‘ three hours. Serves six. A search through treasured fam- ily recipes brought to light an old English recipe supposed to have been in the possession of royal fam ilics since the days of George I. It is called King's Pudding and is gl- vcn here with slight modfieatlong, ii) 11W it’ The Legend of the Christmas Stocking Many. many years ago there liv- H1 111 Europe a very wealthy man named St. Nicholas. He liked noth- 1118 better than to help poor people but disliked very much being thank ed for his gifts. One Christmas Eve 11° W|8111>d i0 give a purse of gold to an 01d man and his little daugh- ter, and in order to escape being seen. he climbed to their roof and 111011111161 1,111 ptifidiousTglft down the chimney. Instead of landing on the hearth, howeve), the puma m] right. into a, stocking whgch w“ 1111118 11D to dry, and the next morn ing it was discovered there! When M1191‘ People heard of the strange happening they too hung up their 31991511188.‘ and soon all over the land it became the custom on the Christmas Eve to hang up anew stocking for St. Nicholas to rm, Wherever ihcrc are children, Christmas and the Christmas spirit _ are in no danger of dying out IO v.0